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Pakistan has reacted with unusual anger over the killing of Taliban leader, Hakimullah Mehsud by a US drone strike, saying the chances of achieving a peace settlement with the Taliban are greatly diminished. Mehsud's death came just hours before a government delegation was set to meet Taliban officials to discuss peace.

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TONY EASTLEY: Pakistan has accused the United States of destroying any chance of reaching a peace settlement with the Taliban after a drone strike killed Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud at the weekend.

Pakistan has reacted with unusual anger over the killing that some experts say might seriously cripple the capacities of the Taliban.

Mehsud's death came just hours before a government delegation was set to meet Taliban officials to discuss peace.

South Asia correspondent Michael Edwards with this report.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: When confirmation came through that a US drone had taken out the head of the Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud, Pakistanis took to the streets to voice their anger.

PAKISTANI MAN (voiceover): Americans have absolutely no right to cause this type of destruction in our country through these attacks. I believe that this was totally criminal.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Though the Taliban is no friend of the Pakistani government, drone strikes are a serious cause of tension between Washington and Islamabad.

A delegation of senior religious leaders was due to travel to Pakistan's tribal belt and meet Taliban officials before Mehsud was killed.

The Pakistani government has reacted strongly, calling in the ambassador in Islamabad and condemning the attack.

Pakistan's interior minister is Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

CHAUDHRY NISAR: First and foremost, the government of Pakistan does not see this drone attack as an attack on an individual, but as an attack on the peace process.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The government says it will review all aspects of its relationship with the US.

The cricketer-turn politician Imran Khan is a prominent critic of drone strikes. Khan's party, the PTI, controls the provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The region serves as a key staging post for trucks supplying NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Imran Khan made a public statement declaring he'd do all he can to stop trucks travelling through the tribal areas until drone strikes stop.

IMRAN KHAN (voiceover): Along with the chief minister of the Khyber Pakhtunkwa province, we have decided that, God willing, the provincial assembly is going to pass a unanimous declaration not to allow any NATO supply trucks to enter the region until they tell us that drone attacks have been stopped.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: While the Pakistani government often complains publicly about drone strikes, it's also accused of tacitly supporting them.

Mustafa Qadri is a researcher for Amnesty International who is regarded as an expert on drone attacks in Pakistan.

MUSTAFA QADRI: What Pakistan has done is really sort of twisted and turned to sort of both placate the United States, its key ally, which last week gave it $US1.6 billion. And then on the other side, placate, you know, a general population that is very opposed to the American war, opposed to the drone strikes.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The big fear for many in Pakistan is revenge attacks. The Taliban says it will unleash a wave of suicide bombers to avenge Hakimullah Mehsud's death.

Mustafa Qadri says the militants will be looking to strike back to prove that they're still a force.

MUSTAFA QADRI: I mean, my personal expectation is that we will see some sort of an attack or bombing or something like that.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Pakistan's security cabinet is expected to meet over the next few days, when the prime minister Nawaz Sharif returns from London.